For Immediate Release:
March 24, 2010
Contact: Terri Kingery
520-568-9573
Maricopa, Az……The Maricopa Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Frito Lay has donated all the tortilla chips needed for the upcoming 6th annual Salsa Festival. This is a wonderful donation and will help defray some of the cost for the event. Other business sponsors are Waste Management and Orbitel Communications.
This event is from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Saturday, April 24, at Pacana Park. The event is free and families can enjoy games, live entertainment, business and craft vendors, food & drink and sample and vote on their favorite salsa. There are a few vendor spaces available and if anyone is interested they can contact the Chamber by calling 520-568-9573 or visit our website at www.maricipachamber.com
(Phoenix, Ariz. – January 22, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard is warning Arizonans to be cautious of unsolicited contractors coming to your door and offering help with repairs or clean-up related to the recent storms that have pounded the State.
Scam artists often try to capitalize on severe storms by taking advantage of homeowners coping with damage. Some unsolicited contractors will claim to have extra materials because they are doing work in the neighborhood. The pitch to the homeowner includes a “discounted” price for materials so the contractor won’t have to throw materials away.
The homeowner is typically given a verbal quote, but never a written estimate for the job. The unsolicited contractor will do the work, and in some cases without the homeowner’s consent, will do additional work. After the job is complete, the homeowner may be presented with a bill that is hundreds or even thousands of dollars more than what was originally quoted. The person will often demand immediate payment and in some cases refuse to leave in an attempt to pressure the homeowner into paying in full.
Goddard cautions Arizona residents to think twice before allowing anyone who shows up after a severe storm to work on your home. Instead, he offers the following tips when choosing a contractor:
- Check with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (www.azroc.gov) to make sure the contractor you are considering has a license.
- Ask for written estimates from at least three contractors.
- Request a list of references and check them before agreeing to hire anyone.
- Make sure the scope of the project, the price and any other relevant terms are spelled out in a written contract.
- Never allow yourself to be hurried into making a decision. No reputable contractor will pressure you into a quick hiring decision.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at 602.542.5763; in Tucson at 520.628.6504; or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 1.800.352.8431. To file a complaint in person, the Attorney General’s Office has satellite offices throughout the state with volunteers available to help. Locations and hours of operation are posted on the Attorney General’s Web site. Consumers can also file complaints on line by visiting the Attorney General’s Web site at www.azag.gov
For additional information, please contact Molly Edwards at (602) 542-8019.
Maricopa, Ariz. (January 5, 2010) – On Thursday, January 7, 2010, the City of Maricopa Development Services Department will host a public meeting to gather information from potential transit riders, their travel behavior and obtain their input on transit issues. This is the first public meeting in a 5-month Transit Feasibility Study Update that will identify potential transit solutions for Maricopa residents. The meeting will be held at the First Baptist Church, 18705 N. John Wayne Parkway, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The study will not only define the most promising routes internal and external to Maricopa, but will also build a solid foundation for possible future transit expansion within the Pinal County region. “We need all potential transit riders to participate in the transit study update,” said Director Brent Billingsley. “The information we gather will be incredibly valuable in addressing transit needs that will affect the entire community for a long time.” When the study is complete, the Mayor and Council will review the findings and make the final selection of the locally preferred alternative and possible external modifications. The potential exists, through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Rural Transit Program (Section 5311), to receive federal funding for the transit system within the study area that would become the nucleus of a potentially great expanded system.
For more information about the meeting, please call Transit Coordinator Kellee Kelley at (520) 316-6948 or visit www.MaricopaXPRESS.com.
Show some love for local businesses. Got a favorite local business that always goes above and beyond to make sure you leave their store happy? This holiday season is the perfect time to say thanks with some cold, hard cash. Intuit’s Love a Local Business contest lets customers, employees, and just about anybody else (including the owners themselves), nominate their favorite local business for a monthly grant of $1,000. Five businesses are selected each month for the $1,000 prize. One of those five businesses gets chosen for the grand prize of $5,000, which is determined based on the testimonials each business receives. Cash isn’t the only thing Intuit is giving away to small businesses these days.
Want some free business advice? Check out this article where Intuit’s founder, Scott Cook, answers a reader’s question on product innovation.
source: Inc.com
As written by:
Vicki L. Pettes, The Communicator
We recently went through some serious computer difficulties. I had messages on my laptop stating I had a Trojan virus on it. Due to a power surge in our home, the power supply on my husbands computer went out.
I received estimates and Raul Rivera at Computer Experts came in at the best price. So, we used his services. We found him to be very thorough in his work and very reasonable in his pricing.
With Computer Experts assistance, we got my husbands computer up and running…
Read the whole article at the website below:
Copanews.com
The City of Maricopa has been hard at work developing a Green Business Program.
If you would like more information please download this packet…
As Seen on:
Technologyinc.com
By Brent Leary
Small businesses are looking for ways to build better, stronger relationships with customers. With the rise of the social customer, this means it’s critical to connect with them in a way that builds trust.
A recent survey commissioned by e-mail marketing provider Campaigner found the top challenge facing small business owners today is customer acquisition and retention — by a landslide. The 2009 State of Small Business Online Marketing Survey questioned over 250 North American small business owners with 20 employees or less. And customer acquisition/retention was the top business challenge of 50 percent of those surveyed. Growing revenue was a distant second with 15 percent, followed by improving cash flow and maintaining profitability — at 9 percent and 8 percent respectively.
The numbers in this survey seems to be on point with other studies I’ve seen over the past year. While revenue growth, cash flow, and profitability are extremely important to any business, they are all driven by the most important asset businesses can have — good customers. And many small businesses do not have enough of those good customers to fuel the other three top challenges they’re faced with.
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MaX Bus is now accepting applications for interested advertisers!
Businesses can download the advertising policy and application online at http://www.maricopamatters.com/downloads/2010%20MAX%20Advertising%20Sales.pdf
Also, for more information on where/when the bus travels through the Valley, check out: www.maricopaXPRESS.com
New online services: making your City government accessible 24/7.
Maricopa, Ariz. (November 6, 2009) – Thanks to the deployment of a new Customer Request Management Software (CRM) tool, citizens can now easily request services and track their progress, as well as search for city-related information from any Internet connection, 24/7. Developed by E-Gov Link, this tool expedites the process of reporting issues such as general complaints, public works repair issues, and will even allow residents to sign up and pay for Parks & Recreation classes online. It will also provide a benefit to businesses who can sign up for automatic notifications of bid opportunities with the City. The Maricopa deployment is currently in its BETA phase and we welcome comments, suggestions, and of course Citizen Requests! To try this new service, visit Maricopa Online Services today.
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) supports Arizona businesses in promoting behaviors that prevent the spread of influenza in the workplace.
Please consider passing along the following important information regarding protecting against and coping with the spread of flu in the workplace. When employers take flu prevention measures and employees take precautions, it results in a healthier and more productive workplace.
Educate employees about influenza-like symptoms. Symptoms of influenza-like illness include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or chills and a cough or sore throat. Other signs include runny nose, body aches, headache, diarrhea and vomiting.
Insist that sick employees stay home if they have flu-like symptoms. Sick employees should remain at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of fever (chills, warm feeling, flushed appearance or sweating). Employees should be fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Do not require a doctor’s note for workers who are ill with influenza-like illness to validate their illness or to return to work. Health care providers may be extremely busy and unable to provide such documentation in a timely way.
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